MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIPS & LOANS
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Brian Bunnell Memorial ScholarshipOn December 26, 2022 Conifer High School lost an essential member of our community. Brian Bunnell was a teacher, father, husband, and beloved colleague who dedicated his life to making Conifer High School a place of excellence and discovery. Thousands of Conifer High School students were influenced by Brian’s passion for life, science, and the outdoors. He leaves a lasting legacy at Conifer that lives on in both our school and our community. This year we dedicate a permanent, ongoing scholarship in his name that will be awarded to a student who personifies his never-ending love for adventure and learning in science. Brian never missed an opportunity to appreciate all that our natural world has to discover, and we are proud to offer this scholarship to a student who shares these same passions.
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Sgt Darin Cameron Memorial ScholarshipDarin was diagnosed with ADD in elementary school which made school a challenge for him. He was a life Boy Scout and was three merit badges away from Eagle Scout. In high school, he decided he wanted to join the Army and become a helicopter pilot. He always wanted to fly, especially helicopters. Before he got his driver’s license he had his student pilot's license. He completed high school in January 1996 and joined the Army in April. Before joining he completed his private pilot's license.
He was stationed at Ft. Riley, Kansas from July of 1996 until May of 1998. He went through the Special Forces Assessment center at Ft. Bragg, SC and was accepted for training as a medic for Special Forces. That same month he was also accepted for training as a Warrant Officer Helicopter Pilot and decided to follow his dream. He was home on leave before going to Ft. Rucker, Alabama for training as a helicopter pilot when he was killed on Catalina Island on May 7, 1998 in a plane crash. Sixteen of his Army friends came from Ft. Riley for his service and served as honor guards. Darin loved the outdoors. He enjoyed camping, snowboarding and skiing. He was always willing to help his friends be successful and encouraged many of his buddies to follow their dreams. The captain at Ft. Benning, Georgia, where Darin did basic training, told Darin’s parents that he was responsible for a number of guys getting through basic training. He succeeded well beyond what people said he could do. |
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Jake Evens Athletic Achievement ScholarshipJake Evens received a Bootstraps scholarship in 2015 upon graduation from Conifer High School. He used the scholarship to attend Colorado Mesa University. Jake prided himself on being conscientious in his school work and he credited sports with helping him stay focused in school. In his application for a Bootstraps scholarship, Jake wrote, "My life has revolved around sports for most of my life, starting when I was around 8 years old and this has formed me to be the guy I am today." Many people described Jake as a special young man who made life better for everyone. He is missed by his family and friends and they have established this scholarship to keep his memory alive.
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Evergreen Area Chamber of Commerce Colin Kerr Memorial ScholarshipColin Kerr was born September 22, 1987 in Campbell, CA the youngest of three kids. He loved making people laugh and being a true friend to everyone he met. He played every sport under the sun, but by high school he became an incredible volleyball player making it to the US Junior Olympic team the semester after high school. He attended the University of Arizona obtaining a business degree while playing collegiate volleyball and holding the position of social chair for his fraternity. Colin had an incredible ability to bring people together and nothing made him shine more than the moments he got to spend making new friends and helping others.
Colin had a very successful career in Los Angeles after graduation, opening multiple venues and restaurants on the western half of the US. By then he had passed his Level 1 Sommelier test and was nominated for “30 under 30” in Los Angeles which recognizes those who have achieved excellence in the food and beverage industry before the age of 30. After missing skiing, Colin decided to move with his fiancé, Britta, to Evergreen. He learned that the locally famous Wildflower Café was for sale and purchased it in 2016 bringing his shenanigans and vibrant energy to Evergreen. Colin loved the Wildflower and the community that was created through the restaurant. He loved to coach skiing in Breckinridge and at Echo Mountain. He quickly became part of the Evergreen Rodeo and involved with the Evergreen Chamber of Commerce, serving on its board of directors. Colin was an incredible businessman, husband, coach, father and friend. His love of life was as infectious as his smile and he will be forever missed by everyone who knew him. |
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Craig Lange Passionate Life AwardCraig loved being outside with every ounce of his being. As a 5-year-old he would sled up and down the hill to the meadow at his parents' home by himself until after dark, making elaborate trails and jumps. Once he learned to ride a bike, the property became a conglomerate of jumps and trails. He rode a unicycle, juggled, earned a black belt in Tae Kwan Do at 9, golfed in the meadow behind the house, and he played...hard. From the time he was born, if something captured his interest, it was accomplished with passion and with fury. Craig understood the importance of pursuing his passions. One way Craig’s family keeps his memory alive is by helping Conifer High School students lighten their financial burden in college.
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Bonnie Vivian and Pete Martinez Memorial ScholarshipPete was born in Leadville, Colorado and grew up in Casper, Wyoming. He and his siblings were raised around music and horses, both of which remained lifelong passions for Pete. Pete is remembered for his bigger than life personality, charm, big smile and generous heart as well as being a gifted musician and singer/songwriter. Music was woven into the fabric of his extended family where the Ramirez and Martinez gatherings included guitars and many voices. At the age of four, Pete joined in when he started playing the guitar.
Though Evergreen had been her home for 30+ years, Bonnie was born and raised in New Mexico where she grew to appreciate and respect the three cultures that thrive there: western cowboy, Native American, and Latino/Hispanic. As with Colorado, New Mexico provided her excellent opportunity for hiking, camping, skiing, and riding horses, which were all part of her life growing up. Pete shared Bonnie’s desire to focus his nonprofit support on Evergreen and performed two concerts at the Evergreen Lake House for the benefit of Bootstraps. Pete died on December 10, 2017 at his ranch in Texas. Bonnie died after a brief illness on July 5, 2022. These two wonderful, generous people are missed by many. |
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Pam Murray Memorial ScholarshipPam Murray was an inspiration to all she touched. She died at the age of 49 after a five-year battle with breast cancer. She encouraged her children to pursue and examine emerging scientific breakthroughs. In her career as an educator, she nurtured many students by guiding their development and independent thinking in a positive way. Her family is proud to be a part of this scholarship in her name.
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Spencer Page SP3 ScholarshipSpencer Page was an extraordinary individual, touching everyone he knew in unique ways. His caring manner, loving and intuitive nature and exceptional sense of humor left a lasting impression on all who knew him. Spencer always took the time to befriend and help students and all people while succeeding in school, playing basketball, and just being a regular guy. Spencer was positive and passionate about life and brought out the best in everyone. In his younger years, Spencer stood out as an excellent baseball, basketball, and football player, starting when he was only 4 years old. He was also a very good swimmer and golfer. SP3 honors Spencer’s basketball jersey number 3. Spencer loved basketball!
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Mara Parslow Memorial ScholarshipMara was blessed with a talent and passion for music and art. Her creativity can be seen through her beautiful jewelry, artwork and paintings that surround us. She was also an avid skier and snowboarder. She was a kindred spirit whose sweet smile and encouraging words would brighten the day of many who looked to her for uplifting guidance.
She was adored by her parents (Cathee, Lou, Marna, and Jeff) and dearly loved by her siblings (Autumn, JP, Morgan and Jesse). She was an inspiration to her family and friends. Mara knew the meaning of the word family and lived her life enjoying all the wonderful moments she spent with those she loved. |
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Gene Younger Memorial Bootstraps LoanGene started and ran the Evergreen High School Building Trades Program for 30 years. Under his leadership, more than 20 homes were built in the Evergreen area. Gene was a great outdoors-man and storyteller, and served as President of Blue Spruce Kiwanis.
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